Reading: CAT NINJA - Matthew Cody (author), Yehudi Mercado (illustator)

Prose (Story): Claude is an ordinary gray cat living a good life with his eleven-year-old boy owner and the kid's family in Metro City. But whenever danger strikes. Claude dons the costume of his alter ego - Cat Ninja! - and strikes out into the city against the forces of evil, using all the skills he learned as a kitten from his revered old ninja master. In volume one of a projected series, Cat Ninja takes on several foes - none so deadly as Master Hamster, who in his alter ego is "Mr. Squeaks", the pet of Claude's owner's young sister - before realizing a bigger enemy with much dire plans looms on the horizon; one he and Mr. Squeaks may have to work together to vanquish!

Don's (Review): Mind you, this is from a dog person: I love this book! Reading like part chapter book and part graphic novel, Cat Ninja's Cartoon Network-worthy artwork by Yehudi Mercado combines perfectly with the snarky, often very funny one-liners and jokes from the mind of writer Matthew Cody. Kids will love the story and characters, as well as the look of the book's colorful and lively palette, but adults reading it to them (or even for themselves) should also take equal pleasure from the characters and story being "in on the joke" even while taking things seriously - which of course makes things even funnier. I loved this one so much, soon as I was finished reading it I read it again; it's one of those books that, when you finish it, you'll wish you could run out and buy ten copies of, just to give each away to someone you love, who could use both a good story and a good laugh. 4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: MY RIOT - Rick Spears (author), Emmett Helen (illustrator)

Prose (Story): Val, a white teen from suburbia who studies ballet and has pretty much spent a lifetime keeping to herself, is growing discontent with dancing and the constant pressures of dieting or - worse - smoking in order to drop weight. One night while working at her job at an ice cream shop, a riot breaks out in the neighborhood, and in the process Val's store is invaded by looters and badly vandalized. She also meets another girl her age that night, one of the looters no less, who seems the opposite of Val in every way - free-spirited, her own person, raging against society - and the entire experience clicks something in Val, in a way that changes her forever. With the help of the girl from the riot - now her new friend - Val forms a band and enters the world of punk rock, ditching ballet and dying her hair and embracing an entirely new and rebellious life. 

Don's (Review): I really wanted to like this one, especially after identifying with Val and her journey in the opening scenes. But as I read on, this graphic novel lost my interest, becoming predictable yet somehow straining believability at the same time. People of color - even a Black girl the ladies bring into their band, turning her into a major supporting character - aren't exactly depicted in an always flattering light, and the relationship between Val and her mom comes off a little farfetched when, in the beginning, the two seem to argue or disagree on everything Val wants to do, Mom essentially worried about Val because she's young and immature ... until out of nowhere the mom suddenly seems to have an epiphany and pretty much gives her daughter the greenight for whatever she wants to do. The artwork, by Emmett Helen, is really good, but for me the color palette of black and white pages saturated in or overlayed with blotches of pastel colors throughout - presumably to set the mood for the punk rock-themed narrative? - left me bored and easily able to put the book down (sadly, without being especially anxious to pick it up again). Nothing wrong with the story or writing itself really, and in fact the scenes where the  band is playing concerts in grubby venues or clubs befitting their musical style, are when the story comes to life; those scenes, brief as they are, kept me reading. It just sometimes felt like everything else, all that tropey story, got in the way of something that could have been so much better. 2.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Watching: FORGOTTEN

Year: 2017

Rating: TV-MA

Director: Jang Hang-jun

Story: Handsome 21-year-old student Jin-seok (Kang Ha-neul), an easygoing guy on anxiety meds for an unnamed condition, moves into a new home with his parents and older brother, sharing a room with his brother after his father tells them that the previous homeowner is still storing some stuff in the other bedroom at the opposite end of the second-floor hall; a room he cautions his sons must never be entered. On top of second-guessing himself when Jin-seok begins to hear thumps and scrapes and other strange noises coming from behind the closed door at the end of the hall, the young man's life is further turned upside-down when he witnesses his brother Yoo-seok (Kim Mu-yeol) being kidnapped by a group of men one dark, rainy night ... and when Yoo-seok returns nineteen days later, with no memory of where he's been or what happened, Jin-seok slowly begins to realize that the man who came home just may not be his brother.

   

Review: One thing I love about Korean cinema (particularly over American cinema) is that films never "dumb down" their plots/stories for the audience. Sometimes the viewer has to think things out, get confused for a bit before figuring out fully what's going on. And the twists! Forgotten has them back to back to back, and just when you think you might have figured things out or at least know where things might be heading ... oops, wrong again! And you've gotten on another rollercoaster altogether. I watched this because of Kang Ha-neul, one of my most favorite actors, who here brings fresh-faced innocence to Jin-seok, whose fear and paranoia become palpable as he starts to try figuring out what's really going on with the man claiming to be his brother - even while, as the viewer, you wonder if all this is real, or how much Jin-seok's condition (and/or anti-anxiety meds) might figure into the equation, especially when Jin-seok begins questioning even his own parents' roles in whatever might be going on. The film's strength is definitely in building that sense of fear, confusion and dread in viewers right along with Jin-seok, and when the twists start coming - each flipping the story in nearly another direction - it's a heart-racing journey following the young man to the truth ... right up to the very final, even heartbreaking reveal in, literally, the last few moments of the film. My only "complaint," if you can call it that, is the film's not exactly uplifting ending. But even that felt - if not happy - at least felt "right"; the proper, honest closure to an exciting, very well-crafted and suspenseful thriller trying to mess with your mind ... and succeeding.  8.5/10 stars

Reading: SKUNK AND BADGER - Amy Timberlake (author), Jon Klassen (illustrator)

(BLOG TOUR SPOTLIGHT!)

Prose (Story): The Odd Couple meets Winnie the Pooh when an uptight, workaholic badger, whose life revolves around being a Rock Scientist and being left alone, has his life and home upended when he's forced to take in a roommate ... the sociable, talkative, friendly, chicken-loving(!) Skunk. 

Don's (Review): Badger lives in a big, two-story brownstone rent-free courtesy of his Aunt Lula, who owns the building. He lives alone and spends his days doing his important Rock Science work, eating the same cereal every day, his life one of orderliness and quiet. That is, until he ignores a few of Aunt Lula's letters letting him know she's also okayed the outgoing, boisterous, very social Skunk to share the brownstone with him, which Badger has no clue about until the affable Skunk shows up at his door, suitcase in hand. Left with no choice, the duo become roommates, Skunk soon getting on every one of Badger's nerves, even as he also introduces the staid Badger to things like a hot, homemade breakfast ... and chickens. Many, many chickens. Award-winning author Amy Timberlake has fashioned a sweet, funny story about tolerance and friendship, creating two very different characters readers of all ages will grow to love and root for, even as they sort of get on each other's nerves. Having read an advanced copy, my only caveat to the book was I was hoping for more of Jon Klassen's beautifully-rendered, Pooh-like black-and-white and color artwork throughout, but have since learned that readers buying the hardbound version of the finished novel will indeed be treated to a beautifully-bound copy with amazing art under the book jacket, and even more full-color plates and black-and-white illustrations inside - so you can bet I will be getting mine, as the artwork is fabulous, fitting the story to perfection. Timberlake has really done a masterful job of creating two main characters who at times are both easy to understand, while at times you can also see how each could be frustrating to the other's lifestyle - much like the real world, where you take people (and animals) as you find them, adapting yourself to their pluses and minuses and accepting them for who they are, if they are to be part of your world. And when things come to a head and Skunk moves out after a very unfortunate - and smelly - accident, by then as a reader you're so invested in these two wonderful animals, you hope that acceptance is a lesson the normally stodgy, disagreeable Badger will learn, as well.  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: PEAKY BLINDERS COCKTAIL BOOK - Sandrine Houdre-Gregoire

Prose (Story): Inspired by the wildly-popular television series, this is an officially-licensed guide to 40 easy-to-make cocktails - divided by three sections: Whiskey, Gin, and Other Spirits - that will make you feel right at home hanging out with the Shelby clan. Also interspersed with photos from the series.

Don's (Review): I'm not even that much of a drinker, but with each turn of the page - featuring the drink recipes on the left and a full-color photo, shot in a very "Peaky" way, on the right - of this gorgeous hardbound book, I found myself wanting to try pretty much each and every one of these amazing-looking/sounding drinks, especially from the Whiskey section. Whether the John Shelby, featuring Chartreuse and Apple Jack and rye whiskey, to the Inspector Campbell sprayed at the end with a mist of absinthe, to the Epsom (featuring gin, Cherry Marnier Liqueur, and one egg white), to Arthur's Coffee (cardamom pods, coffee liqueur, gin and cold espresso) or the amazing-looking Grand Duke (Burgundy wine, Cognac, blackberry liqueur), even a Champagne Cocktail livened up by a quarter of sugar cube and Cognac - each page, each drink takes you right back to the brilliant series and its characters, and pretty much had me salivating on the page. Beautifully done, and a must for any bar or barkeep - not to mention fans of the series! (Available September 22)  5/5 stars

(Left to right: The John Shelby, the Inspector Campbell, the Epsom, Arthur's Coffee, the Grand Duke, and the Champagne Cocktail. Click on image to enlarge.)

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: REVENGE OF THE LIVING TED - Barry Hutchison (author), Lee Cosgrove (illustrator)

Prose (Story): Picking up literally the morning after the events of Night of the Living Ted, this sequel finds suburban school kid Lisa Marie and her half-brother Vernon once again fighting for their lives and their town when an old nemesis comes back to take his revenge ... along with his thousand-strong teddy bear army.

Don's (Review): As much as I loved Night of the Living Ted, I gotta say I enjoyed this crazy, funny, thrill ride of a sequel even more. Hard to say too much without spoilers, but after Lisa Marie and Vernon manage to save their town by shutting down the heinous, Halloween night invasion of teddy bears from the first book, the kids wake up the next morning only to be astonished when not a single person - adult or child - in their town, besides them, even remembers the whole thing happening! Even Vernon's bully of a buddy, Drake - who himself was changed into a cutesy-wutesy teddy just the night before - seems to have no recollection of the incident. Only when Lisa Marie and Vernon are suddenly kidnapped by a mysterious man with his own mission, do things become clear ... before an old, furry enemy takes control yet again, this time determined to make the kids pay for their thwarting of him in the first place. And WOW, did I love every page of it! My only (mild) complaint is that the ending felt a bit rushed; other than that, I seriously think - between the wacky plot/storyline and Lee Cosgrove's animation-like illustrations - that Netflix (or someone) should snap this up and turn it into the funny, subversive and snarky series or series of films it deserves to be. This was so great, even better than the first, and this reader for one already anxiously awaits Invasion of the Living Ted - not, sadly, due until January!  4.5/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: OLLIE'S HAFFINESS - Riya Aarini (author), Virvalle Carvallo (illustrator)

Prose (Story): Book two in the Carefree Ollie early reader children's series finds our hero losing his front teeth, which he promptly leaves in an envelope for the Tooth Fairy in the hopes of getting his wish of having a pet lizard. Sure enough, upon waking up he finds a cage on his nightstand housing a bright green chameleon, whom Ollie instantly calls "Haffiness" (thanks to his missing teeth). But when Ollie proves easily distracted from his pet owner duties and Haffiness turns up missing from his tank, the worried boy goes on the hunt, determined to get his new friend back. 

Don's (Review): Being a fan of the first book in the series, Ollie's Backpack, I have to say I loved this one even more. Again bursting with colorful, full-of-life illustrations kids will love and ogle - courtesy of Virvalle Carvallo - having been a pet owner since childhood, I also really appreciate how author Riya Aarini here spins an entertaining story around a message that will hit home to kids about really caring for (and taking responsibility for) the pets they love. Don't worry, things end on a positive note here, but just don't be surprised if, after reading this engaging book to your kids, they start asking you for a lizard of their own. (Available September 12)  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: PAW AND ORDER - V.M. Burns

Prose (Story): Book four in V.M. Burns's popular Dog Club cozy mystery series finds Chattanooga's newest amateur sleuth, Lilly Echosby, donning her deerstalker again when uber-rich dog aficionado Archibald Lowry is murdered at her friend Dixie's charity event (which happens to take place at the museum Lilly works for), and Lilly subsequently becomes custodian of his favorite pet poodle ... whom other, more malevolent forces also have their sights on.

Don's (Review): Somehow, some way, I bonded with Lilly Ann Echosby from the minute I met her on the page. I get the same warm, hot-chocolatey feels reading her novels that I get every time I watch an old episode of "Murder, She Wrote" - and actually, feel just as squishy for her friends like Dixie and BJ and Dr. Morgan, daughter Stephanie and potential son-in-law Joe, and of course Red - Lilly Ann's cop boyfriend. All of the above, happily, are featured here along with a slew of new suspects - er, characters - and the mystery surrounding whodunnit in the stabbing murder of Archibald Lowry is well-paced as Lilly, along with her visiting daughter and gang of Watson-like friends, unpeels the layers of what ends up being the darker-than-expected eccentric millionaire's past, while getting closer to the truth. Indeed, another hallmark of the series is that the books are short, quick reads, trimmed of fat so that the mystery moves along swiftly, clues and red herrings leading us - in this case - to one of the better, more suspenseful finales I've read in a cozy in awhile. A solid mystery, but with this series what makes me always come back as much as the puzzle is the extremely likable, life-like cast of characters in Lilly Ann and her world; the humor and heart they bring that makes you wish they were friends of yours in the real world.  4/5 stars

NOTE: I received a free ARC of this title from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Reading: THE BARNABUS PROJECT - The Fan Brothers (Terry Fan, Eric Fan, and Devin Fan)

Prose (Story): Perfect Pets is the ultimate pet store, where adults and kids alike can buy their (literally) perfect pet, thanks to genetic engineering. What no one knows, however, is that far beneath the store, buried deep underground, is the lab where these pets are created ... and where the Failed Projects, like the half mouse-half elephant Barnabus, are stored in glass cases, awaiting their fate at the hands of the Green Rubber Suits. But when Barnabus's friend Pip, a cockroach who has seen the world above, tells Barnabus of a land where the hills are green and the buildings are filled with stars that reach to the sky, the young mouse/elephant hybrid decides its time for him and his fellow "Failed Projects" friends to find their own place in the real world above.

Don's (Review): Terry and Eric Fan first blew me away with their brilliant, beautiful picture book Ocean Meets Sky; here, aided by a third brother - Devin - the Brothers Fan have ramped things up another notch, not only producing one of the most gorgeously-rendered picture books any child could ever own, but also imbuing real heart and soul into a story that will resonate with any child who has ever felt less because he or she was "different". Not only do Barnabus, Pip and their friends come to life on the page, their "breakout" and means of escape from the lab flows organically from the story; you truly, really see, with each step, how they systematically plan/make their way, and will be rooting for this group of heroes the entire time. A simple tale with incredible depth at its core, The Barnabus Project is a love story for anyone who's ever felt like they didn't belong - and if you had any heart at all for The Island of Misfit Toys from the Rankin-Bass "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" Christmas special of your childhood, you are going to love this, as I did.  5/5 stars

August Wrap-Up: The Books of Summer

Have been fortunate to have read some really great books over the summer, and August was no exception. Starting off with the decadence of Kevin Crazy Rich Asians Kwan's newest, Sex and Vanity, I fell in love with Capri sight unseen ... segueing to the Teen Titans (whom I've always loved; they just crack me up), a new, made-for-kids version of Scrooge's tale that had me flashing back to old-time animation ... and two very similar yet infinitely different cozies set in east-coast B&B's that had me missing that part of the country badly, too.

That's not counting vikings, a farting pony, an adorable rescue kitten, trashed Christmas decorations, or a gerbil talked into purposefully eating the homework of one of the funniest kids I know. But you can check out the reviews yourself, below - or, as always, as I get them added; only finally just caught up with July!

No new films or TV series to report, but as my life preps to change greatly in just the next week or so, who knows what September's wrap-up will be like (though already have two books under my belt so far). Either way, I hope you stick around for it - or come back again, especially as I try to turn this catching-up-on-reviews thing into a trend.

Stay safe - stay sane - stay masked!